Realistic Socio-Legal Theory: Pragmatism and a Social Theory of Law (Oxford Socio-Legal Studies) - Tapa dura

by any criterion an excellent book ... Tamanaha has produced a work which should feature as a core text in jurisprudence courses. (Oxford Journal of Legal Studies)

This is the most significant piece of work for anybody in Jurisprudence, Socio-Legal Studies, or Legal Theory. (Neil MacCormick)

a rich insight into almost every question legal theory has vexed itself with over the past twenty-five years (Stanley Fish)

Combining philosophical pargmatism with a methodological foundation, Tamanaha formulates a framework for a realistic approach to socio-legal theory. The strengths of this approach are contrasted with that of the major schools of socio-legal theory by application to core issues in this area. Thus Tamanaha explores the problematic state of socio-legal studies, the relationship between behaviour and meaning, the notion of legal ideology, the problem of indeterminacy in rule following and application, and the structure of judicial decision making. These issues are tackled in a clear and concise fashion while articulating a social theory of law which draws equally from legal theory and socio-legal theory.